Leading, Supporting, and Serving the Non-Profit Housing Sector

Best Practices

Resources for Preventive Maintenance

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	BC Fire Code See the Crown Publications Inc. Web site under Code Books and Order Info to buy the BC Fire Code 2006. The key sections are: Part 1 Application and Definitions Part 2 Building and Occupant Fire Safety Part 6 Fire Protection Equipment Part 7 Fire Emergency Systems in High Buildings. Top
	BC Housing The Housing Provider Kit is an important resource. See the Maintenance guide for information on preventive maintenance. Emergency Preparedness guide Emergency Preparedness for essential information on Fire Safety Plans (Chapter 1). On-line Resource Directory under Maintenance Forms to download inspection forms (or order hard copies). View the guides on-line or download the PDF files. Also request an electronic or hard copy of the Elevator Preventative Maintenance Agreement used by BC Housing. Top
	BC Hydro BC Hydro offers the Power Smart Alliance, a directory of qualified contractors for work on energy systems (controls, lighting, electrical). You can request a referral for preventive maintenance service work by using the on-line contractor request form. Or call 604-522-4713 in the Lower Mainland and 1-866-522-4713 elsewhere. Top
	BC Non-Profit Housing Association BCNPHA offers the two-day course Maintenance Works. Learn how to reduce costs and retain property value and rentability with a well-planned preventive maintenance program. Find out how to plan for both long-term and routine maintenance tasks. Day 1 gives you the tools and techniques to plan and manage replacement reserves, inspections, servicing, cleaning, and maintenance contracts. Day 2 is a "hands-on" maintenance course relevant for property managers and field staff. E-mail Kate Nielsen or call 604-291-2600 (1-800-494-8859), ext. 224. Top
	Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Managing Major Repairs: A Manual for Assisted Housing Providers has useful information on preventive maintenance of the building envelope. Call 1-800-668-2642 or 604-731-5733 to order this free manual. Mechanical and Electrical Systems in Apartments and Multi-Suite Buildings: A Practitioner’s Guide presents best practices for design of mechanical and electrical systems for heating and cooling, ventilation, plumbing and electrical power systems. While geared to designers, it will be of interest to people with system operational experience. Most of the material is quite understandable to the lay person. It has value for understanding (and, in some cases, operating) existing systems, for societies developing a new building, and for upgrading systems. Call 1-800-668-2642 to purchase (order #NHA 2049). Service Life of Multi-Unit Residential Building Elements and Equipment indicates the key factors influencing service life for a comprehensive range of building elements and equipment—including "Regular Maintenance & Repair." Call 1-800-668-2642 or 604-731-5733 to order this free report. The Web site offers extensive information on housing. Follow the links to these documents on preventive maintenance topics: Maintaining Your Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) Seven steps to maintaining the Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV). Your Furnace Filter To reduce exposure to airborne particles, choose the furnace filter that best suits your needs. Assessing the Comfort and Safety of Mechanical Systems Ensure that your mechanical systems (HVAC) are operating safely and efficiently. Should You Get Your Heating Ducts Cleaned? When is duct cleaning most appropriate? This fact sheet separates fact from fiction. Top
	Co-operative Housing Federation of BC CHF-BC offers several workshops that relate to preventive maintenance. Check on their Web site under Maintenance Workshops for: Property Management Planning Your Unit Inspections Unit Inspections: Hands-on Practice Maintaining Your Property. E-mail Sue Moorhead or Leslie Burdak. Top
	Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto The Co-op Housing Bookstore on the CHFT Web site offers a number of inexpensive, practical guides written using plain language. Two that have useful information on preventive maintenance are: Property Inspections Property Management. Top
	Fire Safety Plans Your approved Fire Safety Plan has essential information for your preventive maintenance program: Inventory of fire protection systems Requirements for inspection, maintenance, and testing Required reports. Top
	Office of the Fire Commissioner (BC) The Web site has a Fire Safety Plan that is a detailed but generic template to assist building owners and managers to prepare fire safety plans. Top
	Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association The ONPHA Maintenance Planning Handbook has useful guidelines and forms for preventive maintenance in Chapter sections 1.5, 3.5, 3.6, 4.2, 5.3.9, and Appendices B, C, D, E, and U. A diskette comes with the manual and includes all forms and schedules. Order on-line. BCNPHA members pay the ONPHA member price. Top
	Property Management Software BCNPHA is familiar with two suppliers: Netintegrity Inc. and Yardi Systems Inc. The Maintenance System component of Netintegrity’s INFO-Tracker and Yardi’s Maintenance module both provide support for a preventive maintenance program. Top